Archive · 20 Sep 2026
India’s Heat Hotspots Expand as Northwest Emerges Worst-Hit
Scientists studied 52 years of rainfall and temperature records from India.
They combined seven kinds of dangerous weather into one climate index.
The study found that areas affected by extreme heat grew across central and northwest India.
Small hot spots seen in the 1980s became larger connected areas by the 2010s.
Northwest India became the country’s main heat hotspot and also faced drying conditions.
Parts of southern and eastern coastal India experienced more drought.
Northeast India had both heavier one-day rain and more dry spells.
This means different parts of India need different ways to prepare.
The researchers said the index could help officials plan for heat, water, farming, health and floods.
Land affected by temperature extremes expanded by 20% to 40% per decade across central and northwest India from 1971 to 2022.
Scattered heat hotspots in the 1980s developed into broad, connected heat-stress zones by the 2010s.
Northwest India recorded the strongest trends in daytime heat, humid heat and heatwave severity, linked to aridity, drying soils and intense land heating.
Eastern coastal and southern areas faced the fastest drying, while persistent drought hotspots were reported in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
Northeast India experienced heavier single-day rainfall and more frequent dry spells, prompting calls for region-specific heat, drought and flood planning.
- Who
- Scientists from the India Meteorological Department and the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting, including Madhavan Rajeevan and Thota Mohan.
- What
- They developed and analyzed a revised India Climate Extremes Index combining seven indicators of extreme weather.
- When
- The study examined observations from 1971 to 2022 and was published in the peer-reviewed International Journal of Climatology.
- Where
- Across the Indian subcontinent, with the strongest expansion of temperature extremes in central and northwest India.
- Why
- To identify changing regional climate risks and support targeted planning for heat, drought, rainfall, health, agriculture, water and infrastructure.
- Study period
- 1971–2022
- Data source
- 52 years of India Meteorological Department rainfall and temperature observations
- Temperature-extreme trend
- Affected land expanded by 20% to 40% per decade across central and northwest India
- Index components
- Seven indicators, including maximum and minimum temperatures, heavy rainfall, dry days, drought, humidity and excess heat
- Most heat-affected region
- Northwest India, described as the country’s emerging heat epicentre
- Humid-heat trend
- The area affected by dangerous humid heat expanded inland from coastal areas by 10% over five decades
- Statistical method
- Mann-Kendall trend testing
- Publication
- International Journal of Climatology
